Shock-absorbing tie brace

ABSTRACT

A shock-absorbing tie brace has a central member and an outer frame. The central member has two ends and multiple neck portions. The neck portions are formed between the ends to form at least one enlarged portion between the neck portions. Each neck portion has a height (Hn) relative to the central line smaller than a height (He) of each one of the at least one enlarged portion, and a proportion of the height (Hc) of each neck to the height (He) of any one of the at least one enlarged portion is o.1 to 0.99. The outer frame is mounted around and encloses the central member. Accordingly, the shock-absorbing tie brace has an excellent capability for bearing buckling load and is not easily bent or buckled.

The present invention is a continuation-in-part application of the application Ser. No. 11/037,033, filed on Jan. 17, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a shock-absorbing tie brace, and more particularly to a shock-absorbing tie brace used in structures to absorb shock transmitted from the ground or a floor.

2. Description of Related Art

To enhance the strength of a structure, tie braces are mounted at an angle respectively between columns and beams supported by the columns in the structure to stiffen the frame of the structure, and shock-absorbing tie braces also absorb shocks to the structure. However, the conventional shock-absorbing tie brace lacks excellent capability for bearing buckling load, such that the conventional one is easily buckled or bent during an earthquake.

To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention tends to provide a shock-absorbing tie brace to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The main objective of the invention is to provide a shock-absorbing tie brace having excellent capability for bearing buckling load such that it is not easily bent or buckled. The shock-absorbing tie brace has a central member and an outer frame. The central member has two ends and multiple neck portions. The neck portions are formed between the ends to form at least one enlarged portion between the neck portions. Each neck portion has a height (Hn) relative to the central line smaller than a height (He) of each one of the at least one enlarged portion, and a proportion of the height (Hc) of each neck to the height (He) of any one of the at least one enlarged portion is o.1 to 0.99. The outer frame is mounted around and encloses the central member.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a structure of a building with a first embodiment of a shock-absorbing tie brace in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a central member of a shock absorbing tie brace in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the central member in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional perspective view of a third embodiment of a shock-absorbing tie brace in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional perspective view of a fourth embodiment of a shock-absorbing tie brace in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional perspective view of a fifth embodiment of a shock-absorbing tie brace in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional perspective view of a sixth embodiment of a shock-absorbing tie brace in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional perspective view of a seventh embodiment of a shock-absorbing tie brace in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional perspective view of an eighth embodiment of a shock-absorbing tie brace in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional perspective view of a ninth embodiment of a shock-absorbing tie brace in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional perspective view of a tenth embodiment of a shock-absorbing tie brace in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a cross sectional perspective view of an eleventh embodiment of a shock-absorbing tie brace in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a cross sectional perspective view of a twelfth embodiment of a shock-absorbing tie brace in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional perspective view of a thirteenth embodiment of a shock-absorbing tie brace in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a diagram shows comparison of the roof acceleration in X-direction for a steel structure with and without a shock-absorbing tie brace (RBRB) under a simulation of Chi-Chi earthquake (TCU084 station, PGA=EW 0.5 g+NS 0.214 g+VER. 0.158 g);

FIG. 16 is a diagram shows comparison of the roof acceleration in Y-direction for the steel structure with and without a shock-absorbing tie brace (RBRB) under a simulation of Chi-Chi earthquake (TCU084 station, PGA=EW 0.5 g+NS 0.214 g+VER. 0.158 g);

FIG. 17 is a diagram shows comparison of the roof displacement in X-direction for a steel structure with and without a shock-absorbing tie brace (RBRB) under a simulation of Chi-Chi earthquake (TCU084 station, PGA=EW 0.5 g+NS 0.214 g+VER. 0.158 g);

FIG. 18 is a diagram shows comparison of the roof displacement in Y-direction for a steel structure with and without a shock-absorbing tie brace (RBRB) under a simulation of Chi-Chi earthquake (TCU084 station, PGA=EW 0.5 g+NS 0.214 g+VER. 0.158 g);

FIG. 19 is a diagram shows comparison of the column shear force in X-direction for a steel structure with and without a shock-absorbing tie brace (RBRB) under a simulation of Chi-Chi earthquake (TCU084 station, PGA=EW 0.5 g+NS 0.214 g+VER. 0.158 g); and

FIG. 20 is a diagram shows comparison of the column shear force in Y-direction for a steel structure with and without a shock-absorbing tie brace (RBRB) under a simulation of Chi-Chi earthquake (TCU084 station, PGA=EW 0.5 g+NS 0.214 g+VER. 0.158 g).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to FIG. 1, a shock-absorbing tie brace in accordance with the present invention is mounted at an angle between a column (B) and a beam (A) of a structure and comprises a central member (10) and an outer frame (20). The central member (10) has two ends and multiple neck portions (11) between the ends. The central member (10) is formed as a single piece from one end to the other. The ends of the central member (10) are attached respectively to the column (B) and the beam (A) of the building with bolts extending through bores defined in the ends of the central member (10). Earthquake shock will be absorbed by the deformation of the central member (10) of the shock-absorbing tie brace.

With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, each neck portion (11) has a dimension of cross section smaller than that of the ends to form multiple enlarged portions between the neck portions (11). The neck portions (11) serve as energy dissipation segment of the central member (10). Preferably, each neck portion (11) has a height (Hc) relative to a central line (Lc) of the central member (10) is smaller than the heights (He) of the enlarged portions relative to the central line (Lc). The enlarged portions on the central member (10) may have a same height (He) or alternatively have different heights (He). Additionally, the proportion of the height (Hc) of each neck to the height (He) of one of the enlarged portions is o.1 to 0.99, wherein the proportion is defined by Hc/He and the preferred ranges of the proportions are listed as the following table.

No. Minimum Maximum  1^(st) range 0.1 0.2  2^(nd) range 0.2 0.3  3^(rd) range 0.3 0.4  4^(th) range 0.4 0.45  5^(th) range 0.45 0.5  6^(th) range 0.5 0.55  7^(th) range 0.55 0.6  8^(th) range 0.6 0.65  9^(th) range 0.65 0.7 10^(th) range 0.7 0.8 11^(th) range 0.8 0.9 12^(th) range 0.9 0.99

In addition, the proportion of a length of each neck portion (11) to the length of each enlarged portion may be 2, that is the length of each neck portion (11) may be double of that of each enlarged portion.

In a first embodiment, the central member (10) has three neck portions (11) to form two enlarged portions between the neck portions (11) as shown in FIG. 1. In a second embodiment, the central member (10′) has two neck portions (11) to form a single enlarged portion between the two neck portions (11) as shown in FIG. 2. With the arrangement of the neck portions (11), the capability for bearing buckling load of the central member (10,10′) is:

$P_{cr} = \frac{\pi^{2} \times E \times I}{L^{2}}$

Wherein,

P_(cr) is the capability for bearing buckling load of the central member (10,10′);

E is the Elastic Modulus of the central member (10,10′);

I is the moment of inertia of the central member (10,10′); and

L is the length of the neck portion (11).

Accordingly, P_(cr) is inverse proportion to the square of the length of the neck portion (11). Therefore, the length of each neck portion (11) is smaller as the sum of the neck portions (11) on a central member (10,10′) becomes greater, such that the P_(cr) becomes bigger. For example, if the length of the neck portion (11) becomes ½ L, the P_(cr) becomes:

$P_{cr} = {\frac{\pi^{2} \times E \times I}{\left( {\frac{1}{2}L} \right)^{2}} = \frac{4\pi^{2} \times E \times I}{L^{2}}}$

Consequently, the capability for bearing the buckling load of the central member (10,10′) is enhanced, so that the central member (10,10′) is not easily buckled or bent.

The outer frame (20) is mounted around and encloses the central member (10), is metal, is tubular and hollow and has an inner surface. The enlarged portions of the central member are attached securely to and directly contact with the inner surface of the outer frame (20), and each neck portion (11) has an outer edge away and spaced from the inner surface of the outer frame (20) and may be free to contact with the other elements of the shock-absorbing tie brace.

With reference to FIG. 4, the central member (10) has an X-shaped cross section to define four spaces around the central member (10).

The outer frame (20) comprises four tubular elements (21) and four connecting plates (22). The tubular elements (21) respectively correspond to and are held in the spaces around the central member (10). The connecting plates (22) are securely attached respectively to adjacent tubular elements (21), such that the central member (10) is enclosed between the tubular elements (21) and the connecting plates (22). A gap is defined between the central member (10) and each tubular element (21) to allow the deformation of the central member (10), but the outer frame (20) can keep the central member (10) from buckling during the deformation of the central member (10).

In addition, at least one of the ends or the enlarged portions of the central member (10) is securely attached to the outer frame (20) to limit the deformation of the central member (10) to a small range.

With reference to FIG. 5, the outer frame (30) may comprise a tubular element (31) and four L-shaped elements (32). The tubular element (31) is mounted around the central member (10), and the L-shaped elements (32) are attached inside the tubular element (31) and extend respectively into the spaces around the central member (10).

With reference to FIG. 6, the outer frame (30′) may comprise a tubular element (31) and two L-shaped elements (32). The tubular element (31) is mounted around the central member (10), and the L-shaped elements (32) are attached inside the tubular element (31) and extend into two of the spaces around the central member (10).

With reference to FIG. 7, in a sixth embodiment, the central member (50) comprises two T-shaped elements (500) each having two spaces. An outer frame (51) comprises two triangular tubular elements (510) and two L-shaped connecting elements (511). The triangular tubular elements (510) are attached to each other and respectively enclose the T-shaped elements (500). The triangular tubular elements (510) are filled with appropriate material (520) such as concrete or resilient material. The L-shaped connecting elements (511) are attached to the triangular tubular elements (510) to combine the triangular tubular elements (510) together.

With reference to FIG. 8, the outer frame (41) may comprise two tubular enclosing elements (410) and four tubular connecting elements (412). The tubular enclosing elements (410) are connected to each other by two connecting plates (411) and respectively enclose the T-shaped elements (500). The tubular connecting elements (412) are mounted respectively in the enclosing elements (410) and extend respectively into the spaces of the T-shaped elements (500).

With reference to FIG. 9, the outer frame (42) may comprise two triangular tubular elements (422) and four L-shaped connecting elements (423). The triangular tubular elements (422) are attached to each other and respectively enclose the T-shaped elements (500). The L-shaped connecting elements (423) are mounted respectively inside the triangular tubular elements (422) and extend respectively into the spaces of the T-shaped elements (500).

With reference to FIG. 10, the outer frame (43) may comprise four tubular connecting elements (430), two connecting plates (431) and two U-shaped connecting elements (432). The tubular connecting elements (430) extend respectively into the spaces of the T-shaped elements (500). Each connecting plate (431) is mounted between a pair of adjacent tubular connecting elements (430) which extend into the spaces in a same T-shaped element (500) to combine the adjacent tubular connecting elements (430) together. The U-shaped connecting elements (432) are attached to each other and are connected respectively to the tubular connecting elements (430) to respectively enclose the T-shaped elements (500) in cooperation with the tubular connecting elements (430).

With reference to FIG. 11, in a tenth embodiment, the central member (60) comprises two plates (61) each having an outer side, an inner side facing to each other, multiple neck portions and multiple enlarged portions beside the neck portions. Multiple lateral tabs (62) are attached to each plate (61) at the enlarge portions.

The outer frame (43) comprises four tubular connecting elements (430), two connecting plates (431) and two U-shaped connecting elements (432). The tubular connecting elements (430) are arranged respectively on the outer sides of the plates (61). Each connecting plate (431) is mounted between a pair of adjacent tubular connecting elements (430) which are arranged on the outer side of a same plate (61) to combine the adjacent tubular connecting elements (430) together. The U-shaped connecting elements (432) are attached to each other, arranged between the inner sides of the plates (61) and connected respectively to the tubular connecting elements (430) to respectively enclose the plates (61) in cooperation with the tubular connecting elements (430).

With reference to FIG. 12, the outer frame (63) may comprise two tubular elements (630) and two connecting plates (631). The tubular elements (630) are attached to each other and respectively enclose the plates (61). The tubular elements (630) are filled with appropriate material (620) such as concrete, resilient compounds, etc. The connecting plates (631) are attached to the tubular elements (630) to combine the tubular elements (630) together.

With reference to FIG. 13, in a twelfth embodiment, the central member (70) comprises two plates (71) each having two edges, multiple neck portions, multiple enlarged portions beside the neck portions and multiple wings (72) extending at two edges at the enlarged portions to define a space between the wings (72). The outer frame (73) comprises two tubular enclosing elements (731) and two tubular connecting elements (730). The tubular enclosing elements (731) are connected to each other with two connecting plates (732) and enclose respectively the plates (71). The tubular connecting elements (730) are mounted respectively inside the tubular enclosing elements (731) and extend respectively into the spaces in the plates (71).

With reference to FIG. 14, the outer frame (76) may comprise two tubular enclosing elements (760) connected to each other with two connecting plates (761) and enclosing respectively the plates (71). The tubular enclosing elements (760) are filled with appropriate material (720).

Example

A shock-absorbing tie brace having a central member with two neck portions in the following dimension scales has been test. The whole length of the central member is 3104 millimeter (mm), the length of each neck portion is 759.27 mm, the height (Hc) of each neck portion to the central line of the central element is 23.85 mm, the length of the enlarged portion is 680 mm and the height (He) of the enlarged portion to the central line of the central element is 113, so that the proportion of the height (Hc) of each neck portion to the height (He) of the enlarged portion is 0.211. The shock-absorbing tie brace is mounted diagonally on a steel structure having beams of 4500 mm in length and columns of 3000 in length, and additional weight of approximately 6936 kg is added to the floor of the steel structure to simulate the load on the floor. The test result is shown in FIGS. 15 to 20. From the test result, the roof acceleration, roof displacement and the column shear force both in X and Y directions can be effectively reduced. With reference to FIGS. 15 to 20, the earthquake shock is effectively absorbed by the deformation of the central member 10 of the shock-absorbing tie brace.

Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the invention, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A shock-absorbing tie brace comprising: a central member having a central line; two ends; and multiple neck portions between the ends to form at least one enlarged portion between the neck portions, wherein each neck portion has a height (Hn) relative to the central line smaller than a height (He) of each one of the at least one enlarged portion, and a proportion of the height (Hc) of each neck to the height (He) of any one of the at least one enlarged portion is o.1 to 0.99; and an outer frame mounted around and enclosing the central member.
 2. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central member has an X-shaped cross section to define four spaces around the central member; and the outer frame comprises multiple tubular elements respectively corresponding to and held in the spaces around the central member; and multiple connecting plates securely attached respectively to adjacent tubular elements.
 3. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central member has an X-shaped cross section to define four spaces around the central member; and the outer frame comprises a tubular element mounted around the central member; and multiple L-shaped elements attached inside the tubular element and extending respectively into the spaces around the central member.
 4. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central member has an X-shaped cross section to define four spaces around the central member; and the outer frame comprises a tubular element mounted around the central member; and two L-shaped elements attached inside the tubular element and extending into two of the spaces around the central member.
 5. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central member comprises two T-shaped elements each having two spaces; and the outer frame comprises two triangular tubular elements attached to each other and respectively enclosing the T-shaped elements; and two L-shaped connecting elements attached to the triangular tubular elements to combine the triangular tubular elements together, wherein the triangular tubular elements are filled with shock reducing material.
 6. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central member comprises two T-shaped elements each having two spaces; and the outer frame comprises two tubular enclosing elements connected to each other with two connecting plates and respectively enclosing the T-shaped elements; and four tubular connecting elements mounted respectively in the enclosing elements and extending respectively into the spaces of the T-shaped elements.
 7. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central member comprises two T-shaped elements each having two spaces; and the outer frame comprises two triangular tubular elements attached to each other and respectively enclosing the T-shaped elements; and four L-shaped connecting elements mounted respectively inside the triangular tubular elements and extending respectively into the spaces of the T-shaped elements.
 8. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central member comprises two T-shaped elements each having two spaces; and the outer frame comprises four tubular connecting elements extending respectively into the spaces of the T-shaped elements; a connecting plate mounted between each pair of adjacent tubular connecting elements which extend into the spaces in a same one of the T-shaped elements to combine the adjacent tubular connecting elements together; and two U-shaped connecting elements attached to each other and connected respectively to the tubular connecting elements to respectively enclose the T-shaped elements in cooperation with the tubular connecting elements.
 9. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central member comprises two plates each having an outer side, an inner side facing to each other, multiple neck portions and multiple enlarged portions beside the neck portions; and the outer frame comprises four tubular connecting elements arranged respectively on the outer sides of the plates; a connecting plate mounted between each pair of adjacent tubular connecting elements which are arranged on the outer side of a same plate to combine the adjacent tubular connecting elements together; and two U-shaped connecting elements attached to each other, arranged between the inner sides of the plates and connected respectively to the tubular connecting elements to respectively enclose the plates in cooperation with the tubular connecting elements.
 10. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central member comprises two plates each having an outer side, an inner side facing to each other, multiple neck portions and multiple enlarged portions beside the neck portions; and the outer frame comprises two tubular elements attached to each other and respectively enclosing the plates; and two connecting plates attached to the tubular elements to combine the tubular elements together, wherein the tubular elements are filled with shock reducing material.
 11. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central member comprises two plates each having two edges, multiple neck portions, multiple enlarged portions beside the neck portions and multiple wings extending at two edges at the enlarged portions to define a space between the wings; and the outer frame comprises two tubular enclosing elements connected to each other with two connecting plates and enclosing respectively the plates; and two tubular connecting elements mounted respectively inside the tubular enclosing elements and extending respectively into the spaces in the plates.
 12. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the central member comprises two plates each having two edges, multiple neck portions, multiple enlarged portions beside the neck portions and multiple wings extending at two edges at the enlarged portions to define a space between the wings; and the outer frame comprises two tubular enclosing elements connected to each other with two connecting plates and enclosing respectively the plates, wherein the tubular enclosing elements are filled with shock reducing material.
 13. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the ends of the central member is securely connected to the outer frame.
 14. The shock-absorbing tie brace as claimed in claim 1, wherein the art least one enlarged portion between the neck portions of the central member is securely connected to and directly contacts with an inner surface the outer frame; and each neck portion has an outer edge away and spaced from the inner surface of the outer frame and is free to contact with the other elements of the shock-absorbing tie brace. 